The tree is a ritual that grounds history at the heart of family life, revealing the duration of time, not its passing. The photograph is a ritual that grounds history at the […]
Trees of Ritual, Renewal and Grace
Of Christmas Trees and Hemp
Consider the lowly Christmas tree, a symbol of a people and its relationship to the Earth. Here’s Mission Hill Winery at Tsinstikeptum, courtesy of “Do the Okanagan.” There are many ways to […]
The World Tree Takes Two Forms on Solstice Night
Darkness is not to be feared. It can give us strength. In Akureyri, the Troll’s Cat honours the passing of the world through darkness into light as much as the Christmas tree […]
A View of Eternity
The tree of the cosmos, the ranked tiers of angels among stars and planets, plus apples, a cod, a potato, a pickle, Danish flags, a troll, Krampus, birds of paradise, an Icelandic […]
Move Over Partridges and Pear Trees!
To make Christmas music, a dehorned weeping willow and a pair of starlings will do … TrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeerrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllLLllllllLLLllllllleeeellllllllllll!!!!
The Joy of Asparagus
Today, a story of joy, for Christmas Eve. Today, asparagus. The asparagus that gets sliced off underground in Northern Europe and eaten with yellow potatoes, salt ham and hollandaise sauce (or with […]
That Old Christmas Moon
Long before the world tree holding the stars … Straw Star from Dresden … as well as the planets … Blown Glass Ball from the Ruhr Valley …on its branches, there […]
On the Eve of Christmas
Here in the darkest weeks of the year, it’s good to remember where we’ve come from and where we’re going to. Sometimes it’s to a place none too serious: Gate Post, Okanagan […]
Okanagan Okanogan 